Test trials of radar N025N for attack helicopters Mi-28N Night Hunter have been completed in Russia. It is mounted over the spigot of the lifting rotor, representative of the military-defense complex told the Russian news agency TASS on March 25, 2016.

Northrop Grumman & Raytheon won contracts from USAF for work on JSTARS program

The two US-based defense giant Northrop Grumman and Raytheon Company respectively received $70 mn and $60 mn contracts from the US Air Force for radar risk reduction efforts intended for the Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System Recapitalization (JSTARS Recap) program, the US Department of Defense announced on March 24, 2016.

Lockheed Martin Corp has won a contract worth $1.5 billion for work on 28 C-130J Super Hercules military transport aircraft funded by the fiscal 2016 defense budget, the Pentagon said on Thursday March 24 in its daily digest of major contracts.

Ilyushin plans to develop firefighting variant of the Il-76MD-90A airlifter

The new Ilyushin Il-76MD-90A military transport aircraft may be modified to extinguish fire, General Designer of the Ilyushin Aviation Complex Nikolai Talikov said on Thursday. The upgraded Il-76MD-90A plane will be able to carry up to 60 tons of fire extinguishing agents, the general designer added.

Finmeccanica announced yesterday March 23 the first of 16 AgustaWestland AW101 helicopters for the Norwegian Ministry of Justice and Public Security (MoJ) successfully performed its maiden flight at its Helicopter Division’s Yeovil factory in the UK on 21st March 2016.

The Russian Helicopters Holding (part of Rostech Corporation) handed over a batch of four military transport Mi-171Sh helicopters to the defense ministry of Angola, the press service of the holding said. "The helicopters were produced and tested by U-UAZ enterprise and then airlifted by An-124 Ruslan to Angola where they were reassembled at the base of the customer with all the necessary tests and finally handed over to the defense ministry of the African country," the press service said.

Raytheon wins $4.8mn USAF contract to work on EW payload for cruise missiles

The U.S Air Force has awarded the US-based defense contractor Raytheon Company $4.8 million to continue the Counter-Electronics High Power Microwave Advanced Missile, known as CHAMP, aboard the Conventional Air-Launched Cruise Missile.

Netherlands selects Airbus' missile warning system for its NH90s and F-16s

Airbus DS Electronics and Border Security (EBS), a business area of Airbus Defence and Space, will equip the Dutch armed forces with the latest version of its proven missile warning system AN/AAR-60 (V) 2 MILDS F (MILDS = Missile Launch Detection System, Fighter) to enhance the protection of fighter aircraft and helicopters.

First export batch of Mi-28NEs with dual-control technology to be delivered in April

Russia will deliver the first export batch of Mil Mi-28NE helicopters with the dual-control technology to a foreign customer in April, a source in the Russian defense and industrial sector told TASS on Wednesday. "The Rostvertol Enterprise, [part of Russian Helicopters rotorcraft maker], has started serially producing Mi-28NE helicopters with the dual-control technology," the source said.

FL Technics, a global provider of tailor-made aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul services, has announced winning the tender organized by the Ethiopian Air Force for the supply of spare parts and components for training, transport and multi-purpose aircraft, the Lithuania-based company announced on March 18.

Japan opens talks with Western defense companies on F-3 fighter jet development

According to Reuters, Japan has opened talks with Western defense contractors about building a new generation of fighter jets, sources say, in what would mark an important milestone in Tokyo's strategy to maintain its air superiority over rival China. The discussions with defense companies including Boeing Co and Lockheed Martin Ltd come as Japan readies its ATD-X experimental aircraft for its first test flights within days.

A series of successful ground rig trials with the air-to-surface MBDA Brimstone missile have been completed at BAE Systems Military Air & Information site in Warton, Lancashire. The trials are part of the integration of the weapon on to the Eurofighter Typhoon combat jet.

Labinal Power Systems, a subsidiay of Safran was chosen by Airbus Helicopters to supply the cockpit and rear avionics bays for the H160, the latest aircraft under development at Airbus Helicopters. These bays are complex cabled structures made of metallic and composite materials that will integrate the helicopter's cockpit electronics and avionics equipment.

The delivery of two Russian Mi-8MTV-5 (NATO reporting name: Hip) medium military-transport helicopters to Serbia is scheduled for April 2016, according to a Russian defense industry source. "Both helicopters are ready for delivery, which is scheduled for April 2016. Serbia will get modern and reliable modification of world-known Mi-8 transport helicopter", the source said.

Boeing wins a $185mn contract from US Army for Lot 7 AH-64 Apache helicopters

The US-based defense giant Boeing has been awarded an US$185 million contract for the Apache helicopter full-rate production in Lot 7, the US Department of Defense announced through its website on March 21st, 2016.

Antonov Company's An-132D aircraft demonstrator got its wings, the Ukraine-based aircraft manufacturer announced on March 21st, 2016. The next stage of the aircraft construction, which is created according to the contract with King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has been performed.

Beechcraft Defense Company announced on March 18 it recently signed a contract with CAE, to provide service support for the NATO Flying Training in Canada (NFTC) program. The NFTC program currently operates 23 Beechcraft T-6A aircraft for military flight training.

Finmeccanica signed a contract worth over 300 million Euros with ARMAEREO (Italian National Armaments Directorate) of the Italian Defence Ministry for a further nine Aermacchi M-346 advanced training aircraft for the Italian Air Force.

Australian Parliament clears military air traffic control facilities upgrade project

The Australian Parliament has approved a US$310 million project to upgrade Defence’s air traffic control facilities. Assistant Minister for Defence Michael McCormack announced on March 18 new and upgraded facilities will be constructed at 13 Defence bases and five off-base radar sites across Australia.

During the State visit by the Royal couple of the Netherlands, his Royal Highness King Willem-Alexander and her Royal Highness Queen Maxima on March 11th 2016, the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs (MEA) signed a Memorandum of Agreement with NHIndustries (NHI) for the participation of the Dutch Industry in the sustainment phase of the NH90 helicopter.